Zahir

While the novel is a work of fiction, it incorporates strong autobiographical elements and reflects the author's personal history. The character of Esther was inspired by the British war correspondent and author Christina Lamb.

The term originates from Arabic and refers to something that is visible, present, or incapable of going unnoticed. In the context of the book, it describes an obsession that gradually occupies a person's every thought until they can focus on nothing else.

The novel was first published in Iran in a Persian translation, which created a unique situation where the book debuted in a language other than the author's native Portuguese. It was subsequently banned in the country shortly after its release at the Tehran International Book Fair.